Nestled in the corner next to the National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, the National Portrait Gallery isn’t as overwhelming as its larger sibling. It’s an absolute beaut of a gallery, with a permanent collection (free to...

An edgy crowd gathers at Szimpla Kert, a wacky ruin pub in the old Jewish Quarter. On entering, you’ll be overwhelmed by the maze of rooms, where you might find recycled computer monitors, towering piles of books, hookah pipes, or live...

The area of Hoxton, in and around Brick Lane, is brimming with murals and street art that seem to integrate perfectly with both the industrial and natural surroundings. (Case in point: That tree is actually real. When I first saw it, I thought it...

It’s impossible to ignore the hulking 1950s architecture of the Tate Modern, slap-bang in the middle of the most-walked part of the South Bank. A visionary refurb of this former power station has resulted in an artistic behemoth with multiple...

Royal College of Surgeons of 35-43 Lincoln's Inn Fields, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PE, UK

The Hunterian is located at Lincoln Inn Fields, within the Royal College of Surgeons. It contains John Hunter’s spectacular collection of 3,500 human anatomy and pathology specimens, fossils, paintings and sketches. John Hunter was the father of...

Dating back to the 1800's, Highgate was a fashionable place for burials and was much admired and visited. The Victorian attitude to death and its presentation led to the creation of a wealth of Gothic tombs and buildings. It occupies a spectacular...

London has an abundance of unusual bars, for those looking for a special drinking experience. First on the menu—a rum bar with an entrance through a toilet. The Portside Parlour has the right amount of quirk for someone looking for a fun night...

There's something very special about the Royal Academy of Arts, hidden away off Piccadilly, and home to some of the greatest masters in history. The Keeper's House used to store some of the works that weren't on show, but in late 2013 it's been...

Looking for a late-night speakeasy? This one's a charmer. The Bar Americain's fairly hidden from the street, but when you get down there, it's like going back in time. You find a 1930s, art deco wonder, with white-jacketed cocktail waiters and an...

Some of the most intriguing cocktails in London can be found at Jason Atherton's bars in Soho: Social Eating House, Pollen Street Social, and the newly opened Newman Street Tavern. That's thanks to Gareth Evans, officially crowned the best...

The Thames is bound to be an integral part of your vacation experience in London. So there isn't a better way to commemorate your visit to the city than by taking a dinner cruise along the Thames. It provides the perfect combination of great food,...

If you're in London, and you don't like the idea of heading home at midnight, then Dalston is one of the best areas to head to. It's the ultimate after-hours locale, with plenty of late night bars, restaurants, and music venues. It's full of...

The residence and office of Her Majesty The Queen, Buckingham Palace is one of the few working palaces of the world. It is used by the Queen to entertain guests of State. However, a portion of the Palace is open to the public. This includes rooms...

Portobello Road is a colorful stretch of shops and stalls selling bric-a-brac and antiques. Part trendy neighborhood, part flea market. On Saturdays, thousands of people flock there for bargains. I recommend going on a weekday. You can have the...

Daunt Books really is special. Even if you are not a big reader, it is well worth a visit because the space is so beautiful and filled with exceptionally well-chosen books. Daunt is the ultimate antidote to the Amazon generation and connects you...

William and Kate’s wedding brought a 21st-century focus to this 700-year-old abbey, which is built on the same spot as a Benedictine monastery enlarged by Edward the Confessor in the 1040s. The site of every coronation since 1066, it boasts...

When the sunset casts a golden hue to the famous Tower Bridge, with the reflection of the river Thames, it's like a knight changed into his shiny golden armor. Congrats to London's 2012 Summer Olympic Game Opening Day.

Museum cafes are often depressing affairs, white formica boxes where you grab a curling sandwich on your way to the next piece of tourism. But the main cafe's trio of rooms are nothing like that. Designed, respectively, by William Morris,...

Lots of people don’t know that there’s a canal,Regent’s Canal, that winds through the middle of London. Hire a bike at Broadway Market, and you can carry on down the canal to Olympic Park. I want to get everyone rambling around London on back...

Who knew this combination existed outside of our imaginations and day drinking fantasies? Bubbledogs' champagne menu (by the glass or bottle) and a list of combo hotdogs will blow your mind. You'll choose more than one dog unless you forgo the...

One of my favorite things about London is the mix of old and new architecture. Take this view (from the Tate Modern Museum) of the Millennium Bridge and St. Paul's Cathedral. If you're an architecture buff, a walking tour (or two...or three!) will...

What was once a private hunting ground for Henry VIII is now a favorite destination for London locals and visitors alike. One of the eight Royal Parks, Hyde simultaneously serves as a natural oasis and civic hub. A day on the green has endless...

Don’t be deceived by its West London locale. Notting Hill may be one of the city’s poshest neighborhoods but all that is forgotten when it comes to its outdoor flea market. Portobello Market is mainly known for its impressive collection of...

A gloriously eccentric venue, Sketch isn’t a restaurant so much as a collision of ideas, design, food, and frivolity in a large Mayfair townhouse. Its Parlour serves all day breakfast and then evening cocktails in an ambience that’s...

An 18th century pub near the site where the Mayflower set sail for the new world, this eponymous pub is a pilgrimage site for Londoners and Americans. Order a local beer and custom cheese plate to enjoy on the deck perched over the Thames. It's...

This iconic landmark in London is popular for a reason...it's breathtaking! Did you know that Big Ben is the name of the bell inside the tower, not the clock? While you are there, check out the Houses of Parliament (if they are in session)....

A trip to London isn't complete without a visit to Harrods, the world-famous department store. What I find most fascinating though is the building itself and its interior design. Spend a little time looking beyond the items on sale and check out...

In the midst of bustling London a friend of mine surprised me with a gem of a place surrounding the picturesque ruins (walls, no roof) of a church. An intimate, romantic garden with–in case you didn't guess the picture–an INSECT hotel! Its...

Brixton Market is hands-down the best place in London to have Sunday brunch. Choose from any of the stalls serving grub from Mexican tacos to traditional English-style breakfast. I ended up at the Crepe restaurant the day I visited, and I loved...

Visitors to this turreted riverside castle enter a thousand years of history filled with cultural significance (but go early to avoid lines to see the crown jewels). Tudor fans can view the spot where Anne Boleyn was beheaded and the kinds of...

Over the past two centuries, the covered market at Borough, not far from London Bridge, has become one of the country’s most famous foodie spots. From Wednesday to Saturday each week hundreds of traders gather to sell homemade breads,...

I could have spent days at Camden Market! There's loads to see and something for everyone. My favourite find from Camden is an awesome nautical style rockabilly dress (which I saved £10 on :). I also ate the most epic burrito of my life in...

Having lived in London for many years and adoring markets, I can safely say I've spent time at many. Spitalfields used to be my favorite a few years ago, but with all the gentrification in the area, I feel it's lost its charm. Yes, Portobello is a...

It is believed that Prince Albert created the Italian Gardens in Kensington Gardens as a token of affection for his love, Queen Victoria. The gardens, recently restored, are beautifully designed with ornate granite features and seasonal planting...

On its own, the architecture of the Natural History Museum is enough of a reason to walk through its doors one afternoon. The stunning archways and staircases create a grand backdrop to equally impressive exhibits, and you could spend countless...

... he's going to want another cookie to go with it. If you're at Ben's Cookies, you're in luck. Founded about 30 years ago by an Englishman in Oxfordshire (say that 10 times fast), Ben's Cookies has a handful of locations around the United...

The Capital Ring is a 75-mile walking route that encircles London and that you can join for as much or as little as you want. It's a little-known gem—I'm one of the few Londoners I know who've walked it—and depending on which segment you pick, it...

The West End can sometimes be a crummy place to do any actual shopping—the crowds are overwhelming and so too, on occasion, are the shops themselves. But that does not dim the joy of standing in front of the artfully arranged windows of the big...

While everyone and their mother (and aunt and grandmother) are on the waiting list to have afternoon tea at Brown's or Claridge's some time next April, head to Soho for the no-longer-a-secret-but-still-unknown tea room inside the Coach &...

Taken on a cloudy night...1:00 am... this made it great to shoot for one big reason...... no one in the streets..... i like the way light reflected from the clouds... no filter was use just a time variance..

If you feel like taking a walk in London, head to the Mall. Built about a century ago as a ceremonial route, the Mall is a wide road stretching east to west from Trafalgar Square and the Admiralty Arch over to Buckingham Palace. The majority of...

Shoreditch is no slouch when it comes to being a headquarters of hip in London. However, it really set itself apart when 'Boxpark' opened along Bethnal Green Road. It's purported to be the "World's First Pop-Up Mall". As the name suggests, it was...

If you are looking into the option of visiting London but want to avoid the massive crowds of Oxford Street and the Strand, a good option would be to tour the many beautiful, quaint, and calm mews of the city. These mews were used, back in the...

London's East End. Shoreditch, Hoxton, Redchurch, Brick Lane, and Arnold Circus are just a few spots where you'll find some of the world's coolest people. What really strikes me is how beautifully diverse it is (and, yes, suits and facial hair are...

This lovely coffee shop in the mostly-residential area of Balham in South London is really more than a coffee shop. From poached eggs on top of corn bread with marscapone, to fresh soups of the day and fruit-flavored waters that are free of...

Coworth Park, a gorgeous 240-acre property just 45 minutes outside of London in the town of Ascot, is the perfect place to live out your British countryside fantasies. It's the only hotel in the UK that has its own polo fields and some of the...

Situated in a cellar at the very grounds of Westminster Abbey Cathedral in Central London, is the very delicious Cellarium Tea Room. Rather you are in London for one day or one week, I would advise you make tea your first priority. You'll never...

The retail area in Camden is known for an incredible mix of styles, with hard-core leather stores next to sneaker stores next to tourist t-shirts stands. The storefronts along Camden High Street have some fun eye-catching decorations too. The area...

Completed in 2000, London's Millennium Bridge is the first pedestrian-only crossing built over the Thames in central London in over 100 years. The steel structure connects the City of London at St. Paul's Cathedral with the Tate Modern Gallery at...

If the theater prices are a little steep for your budget, or you're just wanting to catch a last-minute show, the half-price ticket booth on Leicester Square is a must. As a local, I've used it often to get discounted tickets to shows. Although...

The strength of the British Pound means that shopping in England can really take a bite out of your wallet. If you're like me and prefer to splurge on food and drink, you may choose to skip out on the shopping of Oxford and Bond streets. But these...

Is it a restaurant? An art gallery? A book store? Try all of the above. This vaulted-ceiling space, way over in Wapping just south of Whitechapel, features an array of feasts for all senses: Dine on small-portion fancy food in the main area of the...

No trip to London is complete without a trip to Dr. Samuel Johnson's House in Gough Square. It's impossible to leave without a strong sense for the man and for his life in London, and the house is a beautiful sight to behold in its own right (and...

Traitors gate was a living horror story right out of the tales of Poe, as traitors attempted escape they would find themselves entering into their own demise. Once they decided to betray they were self sabotaged to chronic torture until sweet...

On your way to the Tate Modern (after snagging some gourmet treats at the Borough Market) stop for a break at the Southbank Skate Park. Tucked under the Southbank Centre, the park is a graphiti covered maze of ledges and ramps. According to...

The Admiral Codrington it’s a wonderful English pub. You won't find it easily. You will have to look for it because it's kind of hidden in the beautiful area of Chelsea. The place is fantastic: quiet and lovely atmosphere, nice touch of music (you...

The Temple Bar Restaurant is located in the Temple Tube Stop and is a great place for a grab'n go breakfast. Just across the road, Victoria Embankment has benches and lots of little nooks and crannies, and is the perfect place to eat your...

After climbing to the top of St. Paul's Cathedral, while looking out over the Thames, I thought, "Really? Can it really already be almost sunset? It's not even four in the afternoon yet!" Late autumn in London--yes, night falls while it's still...

There is never a dull moment at Covent Garden, a labyrinthine open space peppered with restaurants, vintage markets, craft stalls, and independent boutiques. There is festivity in the air. This is compounded by singers, magicians, and...

London's Royal Parks are beautiful in every season but particularly during the spring when the bright colors of naturalized bulbs contrast with varied hues of green. There is an amazing synergy between the architecture and the open spaces - London...

You almost wouldn't notice this place, as you go down narrow stairs to enter its caverns. It feels like a holdover from old days of early cinema with nooks and crannies and cocktails to cry over...they border on the molecular gastronomy level but...

I lived in London for about six months on college so I had ample time to explore as much of London as time permitted. I made many discoveries while in London but Primrose Hill I almost didn't find. About a month before my study abroad semester...

Wake up and smell the roses in London! Every Sunday, from 8am to 3pm, Columbia Road comes alive with the fragrant scents of myriad flowers. Be captivated by the eye-catching and gorgeous blooms, and also venture into one or two of the quaint shops...

The Ceremony of the Keys is a magical way to experience the Tower AND witness an extraordinary part of London history. Lucky ticket holders witness the historic "locking up” of the Tower by the Chief Yeoman Warder and the Tower Guards in a...

Regent's Park in London lives up to its name and is quite royal, boasting rows of manicured flowers and plants. (There's also a theater, zoo, and walking paths.) I always make a beeline for the Rose Garden: a circular garden chock-full of roses of...

For any music lover I don't think a trip to London is complete without taking an attempt to recreate the infamous Beatles album cover. Most of the time we didn't time it right or we were distracted by Londoners headed to work, but it's a memorable...

It’s not always easy to indulge in gentlemanly pursuits while traveling. But after a drink at Il Bar in London’s Bulgari Hotel, a rare opportunity presents itself. Follow the discreet staircase to the side of the bar to find the exquisite Edward...

This was a beautiful park we wandered to thanks to the advise of our host we were staying with. Our primary destination that morning was actually to be Karl Marx's grave, but unfortunately the cemetery wouldn't open for another few hours and we...

London will be popular now more than ever with the recently concluded Queen's Jubilee and the coming Summer Olympics. But the good thing about this city is that it will not disappoint. Just make sure you have your raincoat with you at all times.

South Bank has both the best river walk in London and the city's liveliest cultural centers, so a walk along it is a must. The path takes you from the Globe and the Tate Modern along the Thames—passing Gabriel's Wharf with its...

This has got to be one of the most, if not the most, beautiful Catholic churches I have ever set my eyes on in Great Britain. The interior is almost like something imported straight from Rome. Multiple chapels and gorgeous architecture and artwork...

Don't you have to? Have to? You do. You're right and so am I. If you're going to schlep over to London, you're going to have to book an afternoon tea. Have to. Have to have cucumber sandwiches. Have to whisper in hushed tones and light giggles....

Shaded by the outstretched limbs of leafy trees, the open space overlooking the Albert Memorial in Hyde Park is a secluded place for a sunny picnic. Set a few paces from South Kensington’s Exhibition Road, this quiet lawn is the ideal rest stop...

This is a landmark that is so familiar, so often seen, that to visit it -- even for the first time -- feels almost ordinary. You know the Tower Bridge. You've seen it in storybooks and on movie screens. You get it. Right? Nope. Because even if it...

"St Etheldreda’s Church was the town chapel of the Bishops of Ely from about 1250 to 1570. It is the oldest Catholic church in England and one of only two remaining buildings in London from the reign of Edward I. It was once one of the most...

If you have a morbid fascination, natural curiosity or interest in medicine block out plenty of time to visit The Hunterian Museum in the Royal College of Surgeons. The Hunterian Museum collections have been brought together over four centuries by...

Facing St. Bart's Hospital from Smithfield Market, you will see an innocuous looking arched doorway on your left. It's the entrance to the courtyard for St. Bartholomew the Great church, founded in 1123, making it the oldest church in London (they...

The Palace of Westminster is the meeting place of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Commonly known as the Houses of Parliament after its tenants, the Palace lies on the Middlesex...

Big Ben is located at the north end of the Palace of Westminster. Only, I learned this trip, Beg Ben is not Big Ben. The clock tower that most of us Americans think of as Big Ben is actually the Elizabeth Tower (unimaginatively named "Clock Tower"...

Also known as the Law Courts, the Royal Courts of Justice building is open to the public (depending upon the cases being heard) and is worth visiting for its gothic architecture. Unfortunately interior photos are not permitted. London trip report:...

A junction of seven streets that meet at a humble column, Seven Dials is a hub of vintage shops, specialty stores, cozy pubs, and edgy salons in Covent Garden. Since this is a neighborhood known for its high-end labels, Seven Dials is the place to...

Haste is Slow, Wisdom is Rare, Finery is Foolery, Silence is Golden...a philosopher's outlook immortalized in marble and gold mosaic, embellish walls and barrel vaulted ceilings and decorate the exterior at the Blackfriars Pub. Soak up some...

Guests who stay at the InterContinental London Park Lane will feel like a royal when they book a stay in the hotel's Royal Suite. The design is an homage to the hotel's location on the site of Queen Elizabeth II's former childhood home. The satin...

To experience sunshine in London is to experience a revived city – after all, this place isn’t exactly known for its weather. Take in the newfound smiles and uncovered pasty limbs of Londoners with a visit to Lincoln’s Inn Fields. Lincoln’s Inn...

There’s a line in the Beatles’ song, “Here Comes the Sun” that is personified in a stroll through the Victoria Embankment Gardens in Westminster. You’ll see “the smiles returning to the faces” after the city’s notoriously long winters have swept...

It's just a fantastic walk in western London. It works out great if you take the tube to notting hill, walk down portobello and snag some snacks and shop, then hire a cycle and take a spin through Hyde Park.

It's a required stop on London if you have any inclination toward nature and art. Just hop on a bike for 2 pounds and spin around the giant park. There are a lot of no biking areas but don't be shy, just hop off and walk your bike in and around...

Trafalgar Square dominates the landscape at Charring Cross. It was made to commemorate the Battle of Trafalgar. At the centre is Nelson's column, which includes a statue of Horatio Nelson, the vice admiral who commanded the British Fleet at...

Brick Lane Market has everything from bric-a-brac to high-end design.Brick Lane between Bethnal Green Road and Wentworth Street Sundays, 8 a.m.–3 p.m. This story appeared in the Premier 2009 issue. See all oflondon"Sophie Howarth’s favorite places...

Checking out the famously preserved mummies at the world’s oldest public museum is on many London wish lists, but there’s much more to the British Museum than ancient Egypt. Other must-sees include the Elgin Marbles and the African...

This was certainly the most mesmerizing decor of any underground station in London. I was just passing through and when I saw this I had to hop out for a few minutes to get a photo and then catch another train onward. The station also has a glass...

Piccadilly Circus is the busiest area of the busy city of London. So much so that the phrase “it’s like a Piccadilly circus” has made this place synonymous with the hustle bustle that it is an eternal witness to. Find this attraction in 5 days in...

When most people think of Relais & Chateaux, they think of great hotels. But the brand is also synonymous with great restaurants. As of 2013, Relais & Chateaux had 163 grand chefs. To showcase their talents, a grand chefs dinner event was launched...

There's St. Paul's Cathedral -- you know, the one with the impressive dome overlooking the Millennium Bridge -- and then there's St. Paul's Church. Facing Covent Garden Market in a cobblestone square, St. Paul's Church has an understated...

Set beneath Waterloo Station, the Old Vic Tunnels (also known as the Waterloo Graffiti Tunnels) is an authorized public canvas for artists to frame their work. Adjoining what was once an underground venue of the same name – where movie screenings...

St Bartholomews Hospital is the oldest in England and has seen many famous clinicians and developments over the centuries since it was founded in 1123. The museum is free and very interesting to visit, even though it is really small. Pass through...

All Hallows by the Tower is not the most well-known landmark in London, but it is certainly one of the most interesting. Built on a hill just to the west of the Tower of London, All Hallows was founded 400 years before its tourist-trap neighbor....

This very barber's shop, originally owned and run by Mr George Trumper, has been offering gentlemen of distinction the smoothest, most luxurious shaves since the 1800s. If you want some male pampering—or just some nice souvenirs for a fussy friend...

Other than the fact that it’s just nice to see sunshine after a gray winter, the great thing about summer in London is that pubs let you drink outside. (You can do this year-round, but if you want a watered down beer, try doing this in the rainy...

I have a confession to make: I don’t like souvenirs. At least, I don’t like flashy souvenirs. I never traded a few pounds for a trinket with Big Ben, the Queen, or Tower Bridge stamped across the front while I lived in London, and I don’t regret...

It dubs itself as “the largest pub in London,” but size is deceiving when you take a seat inside the Porterhouse. A short walk from Covent Garden’s piazza, this pub is divided into twelve levels that all share an industrial theme. Copper-hued...

I could tell you all about my favorite place in London that's it's not just unique, crazy, interesting and exiting but honestly I never knew how to dis robe to someone the beautiful district of the big city. In Camden it all comes together and the...

There is a sad little fenced lot on Red Cross Way in Southwark. It is filled with broken concrete slabs, patches of overgrown grass and the unmarked graves of women, children and paupers from post-medieval London. Transport for London partially...

It really is a lovely cathedral though it is not in this picture. St. Paul's Cathedral towers over the shoulder of the photographer (me!) snapping a perfect picture of other entranced photographers. Loading, viewing and focusing, these...

The wild and grassy sprawl of Hampstead Heath serves as a slice of heaven in the heart of London. Whilst most of London’s parks are carefully manicured flowerbeds and lawns, the Heath is overgrown and wild; the perfect spot for a bit of Headspace....

As we entered the Guildhall Yard we were shooed away from the doors, which promptly opened to men with spears! We had happened upon the Beating of the Bounds, once a tradition throughout England and only held in a few locations today. City and...

This underground bunker lay undisturbed for 30 years after the end of World War II, and is now open to the public in its restored original state. The maps are as they were the day the war ended. It's moving to contemplate that this is where...

It’s not on most tourist itineraries, but the British Library is a must-see for anyone who appreciates literature or history. The permanent exhibitions are free and open seven days a week, and they showcase important documents like the Magna Carta...

Having just arrived in London after taking a red eye I was ready for some local food while I waited to check into my hotel. I was staying by the Liverpool stop and wandered by Polo Bar—it looked more of a take out place but I walked in and there...

Enter Leadenhall Market and you are walking back through time (albeit with a few modern shops involved). Right in the middle of London's financial hub, just 5 minutes walk from Bank station you will discover this covered market complete with...

Exit out of Bond Street underground station and find yourself caught in the tide of London's commercial centre. Embark on a suspenseful balancing act for your coffee cup as you weave through the swarms of fast-paced locals and meandering...